In light of the current humanitarian crisis, the Stroud Valley Artspace are organising a Fundraising Art Auction in aid of Refugee Aid Stroud at the old Millets Shop on Stroud High Street."We’ve wanted to do an Art Auction for a while and given the current situation with the refugees and the fact that we had the opportunity to use the old Millets shop it was a great chance to put them together. We’ve got a great selection of work, I’m really excited about seeing it all and to hopefully raise lots of money for a great cause. It’s also given artists a chance to help if they couldn’t have otherwise" Briony Wilson-Fforde, SVA

All the proceeds raised from the forthcoming Fundraising Art Auction will go to Refugee Aid Stroud, which started as a private Facebook page back in September last year, simply aimed at getting a van load of donations together to send to the refugee camp in Calais. They have since stopped aid collections and will be focusing their efforts on directing fundraising and volunteers to appropriate bodies on the ground in Calais, Greece, Syria and anywhere else that the refugee crisis flares up."Refugee Aid Stroud is a voluntary organisation, this means that every single penny raised by this excellent Art Auction will be spent directly on food, clothing, building materials or getting volunteers onto the ground." Jesse Carrington, Refugee Aid Stroud

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 13th February with drinks and nibbles from 12 – 4pm, and will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am – 4pm until Saturday 27th February.The Auction itself will take place on Saturday 27th February at 6pm. You don’t need to book, but you can save time by registering to bid by emailing rosa@sva.org.uk with your name, email and mobile number (you will then pick up your bidding card on the night!). If for some reason you cannot make the auction, there is also an option to 'live bid' on-line from the comforts of your sofa via www.cotswoldauction.co.ukAlternatively, you can pre-bid by dropping your bid into the ballot box at the exhibition. And if you don’t fancy bidding but would still like to donate to this great cause, there will be a donation box at the auction.

Click here to visit the facebook event page for further information and regular updates!